San Diego (AP) -- A New York financier has pleaded guilty in the bribery scandal surrounding jailed former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
Thomas Kontogiannis admitted to a single count of engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction in a February plea agreement filed under seal in San Diego federal court. A judge in the case ordered on Wednesday that the documents publicly released.
Kontogiannis admits paying more than $500,000 to help Cunningham buy a $2.5 million mansion in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe in 2004.
According to the plea, that money was eventually paid back to Kontogiannis by Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes.
Wilkes has pleaded not guilty to bribery and money laundering charges filed against him earlier this year. Kontogiannis' nephew has also pleaded not guilty on related charges. The two men are expected to face trial this fall.
Kontogiannis faces up to ten years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced November 26th and remains free on a $1.5 million bond.
Cunningham pleaded guilty in November 2005 to taking $2.4 million in bribes from Wilkes and other defense contractors.
The former Republican lawmaker from San Diego is now in federal prison serving a sentence of more than eight years.
